Two of Repentance #2 (Shuva/Vayeilech - Ashkenazim)
After the Temple’s destruction described in the Haftarot of the “Three of Affliction” (תלת דפורענותא) and Tisha B’Av, the “Seven of Comfort” (שבע דנחמתא) comforted the exiled Jewish people, assuring their eventual glorious redemption. Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the “Two of Repentance” (Aramaic: תרתי דתיובתא) - recited on Tzom Gedaliah (by Ashkenazim only) and Shabbat Shuva (by all) - encourage the people to repent in order to achieve the promised redemption.
Two of Repentance #2 (Shuva/Vayeilech - Ashkenazim):
Hosea 14:2-10, Joel 2:15-27
The Haftarah consists of two sections, both of which call for national repentance and describe God’s blessings in response. Its first section is Hosea’s final prophecy. The prophet calls for the Northern Kingdom, “Ephraim”, to abandon its idolatry and military dependence upon mighty Assyria and return to God. In return, God will shower them with love, protect them, and ensure they flourish lushly.
The second section is from the prophet Joel. To punish and shame the Southern Kingdom for its sins, God has sent locusts to consume Judah’s vegetation and starve its people. In keeping with the timing of the Haftarah’s recitation, a shofar calls for every single Judean to pray and fast for God’s mercy. In response to this national repentance, God drives the locusts aways, and grants rain, agricultural abundance, and protection to Judah. All rejoice as God returns to His people’s midst, and the international reputation of Judah and God are restored.
Haftarah Breakdown
Hosea, verses 14:2-4: The prophet calls for Israel to abandon their idolatry and their alliance with Assyria’s military. Their words of confession, return, and reliance upon God will suffice; sacrifices are not needed.
Hosea 14:3
Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to Him, “Forgive all iniquity and accept what is good, and we will pay [for offerings of] bulls, [the offering of] our lips…”
קְח֤וּ עִמָּכֶם֙ דְּבָרִ֔ים וְשׁ֖וּבוּ אֶל־ה' אִמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו כָּל־תִּשָּׂ֤א עָוֺן֙ וְקַח־ט֔וֹב וּֽנְשַׁלְּמָ֥ה פָרִ֖ים שְׂפָתֵֽינוּ׃
Verses 14:5-9: When the people renounce their idols, God’s anger for His people will end. In love, God will forgive and protect them, causing them to flourish and nourishing them until they are glorious and delightful.
Hosea 14:6
I [God] will be like dew to Israel, which will blossom like a rose and shall strike its roots like the [cedars of] Lebanon.
אֶהְיֶ֤ה כַטַּל֙ לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל יִפְרַ֖ח כַּשּֽׁוֹשַׁנָּ֑ה וְיַ֥ךְ שָׁרָשָׁ֖יו כַּלְּבָנֽוֹן׃
Verses 14:10: Although sinful Israel stumbled (v. 2) on God’s straight paths, righteous Israel trods them wisely.
Hosea 14:10
Whoever is wise, let him understand these things: whoever is understanding, let him know them. For the Lord’s ways are straight- the righteous walk in them, but transgressors stumble on them.
מִ֤י חָכָם֙ וְיָ֣בֵֽן אֵ֔לֶּה נָב֖וֹן וְיֵדָעֵ֑ם כִּֽי־יְשָׁרִ֞ים דַּרְכֵ֣י ה' וְצַדִּקִים֙ יֵ֣לְכוּ בָ֔ם וּפֹשְׁעִ֖ים יִכָּ֥שְׁלוּ בָֽם׃
Joel, verses 2:15-17: God has sent a locust plague to destroy Judah’s crops, to shame and starve its people. With shofar blows declaring a fast in Zion and priests weeping in the Temple, every member of the people must gather to fast and pray for God’s mercy. They remind God that nations will deem Him weak if He does not save them.
Joel 2:15
Sound a shofar in Zion! Sanctify a fast day! Call an assembly!
תִּקְע֥וּ שׁוֹפָ֖ר בְּצִיּ֑וֹן קַדְּשׁוּ־צ֖וֹם קִרְא֥וּ עֲצָרָֽה׃
Verses 2:18-20: In response, God spares the Land and His people by driving the locusts far away, where they rot. God gives them ample crops, restoring their international honor.
Joel 2:20
The Lord answered and said to His people, “Behold, I will send you corn, wine, and oil, with which you shall be satiated. I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.”
וַיַּ֨עַן ה' וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְעַמּ֗וֹ הִנְנִ֨י שֹׁלֵ֤חַ לָכֶם֙ אֶת־הַדָּגָן֙ וְהַתִּיר֣וֹשׁ וְהַיִּצְהָ֔ר וּשְׂבַעְתֶּ֖ם אֹת֑וֹ וְלֹא־אֶתֵּ֨ן אֶתְכֶ֥ם ע֛וֹד חֶרְפָּ֖ה בַּגּוֹיִֽם׃
Verses 2:21-27: God now provides rain at proper times, making life flourish again. The Land, its animals, and its people rejoice. Knowing that God alone provides bounty and is in their midst, the people will never again be ashamed and must praise Him.
Joel 2:26
You shall surely eat and be sated, and you shall praise the Name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you. My people shall never be ashamed.
וַאֲכַלְתֶּ֤ם אָכוֹל֙ וְשָׂב֔וֹעַ וְהִלַּלְתֶּ֗ם אֶת־שֵׁ֤ם ה' אֱלֹ֣קיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֥ה עִמָּכֶ֖ם לְהַפְלִ֑יא וְלֹא־יֵבֹ֥שׁוּ עַמִּ֖י לְעוֹלָֽם׃
Haftarah Halakhah
The Talmud explains why this Haftarah can consist of passages from two different prophets: its second section, from Joel, follows its first section, from Hosea, among the books of the “Twelve Prophets.”
Megillah 24a
It is taught in a Baraita: One may not skip from one prophet to another. Amongst the twelve books of Prophets one may skip provided that one does not skip from the book’s end to its beginning.
תניא אידך אין מדלגין מנביא לנביא ובנביא של שנים עשר מדלג ובלבד שלא ידלג מסוף הספר לתחילתו:
Connection
Hosea 14:3 is a basis for establishing prayer as a substitute for the Temple service:
Sefer HaChinukh 185
This commandment [of the Yom Kippur service] is practiced at the time of the [Temple]. Now that, due to our iniquities, we have neither Temple nor high priest, neither [priestly] garments nor sacrifices, all of Israel are accustomed on this day [of Yom Kippur] to serve [God] through prayers and supplications as [Hosea 14:3] states, "Let us render [for] bulls [offered in the Temple], [the offering of] our lips.”
ונוהגת כל מצוה זו בזמן הבית. ועכשיו בעונותינו שאין לנו לא מקדש ולא כהן גדול ולא בגדי שרד ולא קרבנות, נהגו כל ישראל לעבד ביום זה בתפלות ובתחנונים, וכמו שכתוב (הושע יד ג) 'ונשלמה פרים שפתינו'.
With emendations, all translations are from Sefaria.org. To dedicate, comment, or subscribe, email haftarahhelper@gmail.com.